The Dangers of Neglecting Meditation # 2

The Dangers of Neglecting Meditation # 2

6. The reason why afflictions do work no more upon us and why we are never the better for the afflicting hand of God is for lack of meditation.

Ecclesiastes 7:14 is a precious text: "In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity "consider." Times of affliction are times of meditation. What must we consider in the day of adversity? We must consider who it is that afflicts us, why we are afflicted, and what we shall do to have our afflictions sanctified. We must consider the meaning of God's rod and how we may be taught spiritual things by these afflictions. 

Now, because we do not meditate upon God and upon His afflicting hand when we are afflicted, because we have slight thoughts under our afflictions - we get little good by our afflictions. I have observed that as soon as ever we are recovered from our afflictions - many of us forget God immediately. We never consider the mercies of God in recovering us - and then we return to our old vomit again for lack of meditation (Pro. 26:11; 2 Peter 2:22).

7. What is the reason that the saints of God are so distrustful of God's providences when they are ready presently to sink and to say they are undone? It is for lack of meditation. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens. Consider how the lilies grow. If you studied the love of God to you - then you would trust Him under any sad providences. The reason why the saints of God are so full of unbelief when they are in a low condition is for lack of meditation. They do not consider the ravens and the lilies; they do not study the promises that God has made to His children in their lowest condition.

8. The reason why the professors of religion are so censorious of other men and so little censorious of themselves, why they judge every man and examine every man but themselves - is for lack of meditation. "Do not judge, or you will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye," when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye!" (Matthew 7:1-5).

If men did reflect more upon themselves - they would censure themselves more, and others less. And the reason why people are so rash in censuring others, is for lack of self-reflection.

9. The reason why professors of religion offer the sacrifices of fools to God when they come to worship Him, why they pray proudly and rashly, why they rush upon ordinances without preparations - is for lack of meditation. "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in Heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few." (Ecclesiastes 5:1-2).

Why do people rush upon ordinances without preparation, rush upon sermons, rush upon prayer, rush upon holy duties? Why, they do not consider what they do?

10. What is the reason that people prepare no more for death? Because they do not consider the shortness of life. They do not meditate of the vanity of this life, of the certainty and uncertainty of death. Therefore it is said, "O that they were wise, that they understood this - that they would consider their latter end!" (Deu. 32:29).

Because men do not consider their latter end - is why they are so unprepared for their latter end! They neglect meditation!

~Edmund Calamy~

(The End)